Research Guides
The Beggar's Opera: A Play in Fourteen Acts on John Gay's Theme
Václav Havel
The Beggar's Opera was first performed in secret by the Theatre on the Road, an amateur group, at U Celikovskych, Horni Pocernice, Cazechoslovakia, on November 1, 1975 under the direction of Andrej Krob.
Cast: Havel was blacklisted at the time he wrote this play in 1972; the ban on performing his work was still in effect during the first production of the play. As such, many of the actors' names are not known as there was no official record made of the production, other than photographs, to avoid prosecution.
Macheath, boss of a criminal organization Viktor Spousta
William Peachum, boss of another criminal organization Jan Hrabeta
Elizabeth Peachum, his wife
Polly, their daughter and Macheath's wife
Bill Lockit, Chief of Police Andrej Krob
Mary Lockit, his wife
Lucy, their daughter and Macheath's wife
Harry Filch, a freelance pickpocket Jan Kaspar
Diana, owner and operator of a "ladies' salon"
Jenny, Betty, Vicki, her employees
Harol, John, Prison guards
Jim, jack, members of Macheath's organization
A Drunk
A Bartender
The Voice of an Aristocrat
A Sergeant
Three Bailiffs
Ingrid
Select Production History
1995 Theater on the Balustrade, Prague; directed by Andrej Krob
2003 British premiere at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond; directed by Geoffrey Beevers
Select Publication History
Havel, Václav. The Beggar's Opera, Paul Wilson, translator. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2001. Drama Library PG5039.18. A9 Z313 2001.
Reviews of British Production (links are to full-text articles; UW-restricted)
Bassett, K. (2003, Jan. 26). Arts: Theatre-no beggars, no opera... no problem; the beggar's opera orange tree Richmond road lyric hammersmith London. Independent on Sunday, pp. 10.
Billington, M. (2003, Jan. 20). Review: Theatre: Erotic double-dealing in havel's banned play: The beggar's opera: Orange tree, Richmond 3/5. The Guardian, pp.16
Clapp, S. (2003, Jan. 26). Review: Critics: Theatre: Hytner turns down the heat: The national's new artistic director inspires hope for the future, but for now london's smaller venues show the way. The Observer, pp. 12.
Koenig, R. (2003, Jan. 23). Theatre: All the poorer for being repressed; the beggar's opera orange tree theatre Richmond. The Independent, pp. 14.
Parker, M. (2003, Jan. 23). Witty play resurfaces after years in the dark. Morning Star, pp. 9.
Spencer, C. (2003, Jan. 21). Chilling echoes of the cold war. The Daily Telegraph, pp. 20.
Select Bibliography
Monographs
Goetz-Stankiewicz, M. and P. Carey, eds. (1999). Critical Essays on Václav Havel, New York: G.K. Hall & Co.
Abstract: Essay " Spectacular Pretending: Havel's The Beggar's Opera"
Hůrková, K., Mirror Images: A Comparison of the Early Plays of Václav Havel and Tom Stoppard. (2000). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Abstract: Analysis of a number of Havel's play, but not The Beggar's Opera.
Rocamora, C. Acts of Courage: Václav Havel's Life in the Theater. (2005). Hanover, NH: Smith and Krau.
Abstract: Chapter on The Beggar's Opera; a chronology of plays, a select bibliography, and production photos.
List of Published and Translated Vaclav Havel Plays
Audience, in The Vanek Plays: Four Authors, One Character, Jan Novak, trans., Vancouver: The University of British Columbia Press, 1987; Selected Plays 1963-1983, George Theiner, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1992; and in The Garden Party and Other Plays. New York: Grove Press, 1993.
The Garden Party, London: Cape, 1969; and in Selected Plays 1963-1983, Vera Blackwell, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1992.
The Memorandum, New York: Grove Press, 1967; in Selected Plays 1963-1983, Vera Blackwell, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1992; and in The Garden Party and Other Plays, New York: Grove Press, 1993.
The Increased Difficulty of Concentration, London: Samuel French, 1976; and in Selected Plays 1963-1983, Vera Blackwell, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1992; and in The Garden Party and Other Plays. New York: Grove Press, 1993.
Unveiling, in Selected Plays 1963-1983, Jan Novak, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1992; and in The Garden Party and Other Plays. New York: Grove Press, 1993.
Protest, in Selected Plays 1963-1983, Vera Blackwell, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1992; and in The Garden Party and Other Plays. New York: Grove Press, 1993.
Mistake, in Selected Plays 1963-1983, George Theiner, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1992; and in The Garden Party and Other Plays. New York: Grove Press, 1993.
Largo Desolato, London: Faber, 1987; New York: Grove Press, 1987; and in Selected Plays 1984-1987, Tom Stoppard, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1994.
Temptation, London: Faber, 1988; New York; Grove Press, 1989; and in Selected Plays 1984-1987, George Theiner, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1994.
Redevelopment, in Selected Plays 1984-1987, James Saunders, trans., London: Faber & Faber, 1994.